Argonne Semester collection

Collection

Identifier: AC 13

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection contains a small amount of press materials and correspondence about the Argonne Semester program, often between Beloit College and the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) or Argonne National Laboratory itself. The bulk of the collection is dedicated to final reports by Beloit College students who took part in the program from 1962-1964.

Dates

1959-1966

Biographical / Historical

Argonne Semester (or Argonne National Laboratory Program) was a training project of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) in which student research was directed by scientists at Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, Illinois. Argonne Semester started at Beloit College in 1960, and the last time the program is listed in the College Catalog is 1968-1969.

Biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics majors were research assistants on a halftime basis who received firsthand experience in their chosen field from Argonne staff members. The remainder of their time was devoted to study under ACM faculty members at the Laboratory. Full college credit was granted for the combined experience.

The aim of the program was twofold: to provide the faculty members an opportunity to join with Argonne scientists in the conduct of research of their interest, and to provide the students a preview of science in action in their chosen areas of education.

Though it pre-dated the Beloit Plan, which began in 1964 and emphasized experiential learning, Argonne Semester was very much in the same spirit, and became part of its special programs in the “Upperclass Year.”

Students still regularly engage in internships at Argonne.

[from 1960, 1963 press releases, source materials within collection]

Extent

0.42 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection contains a small amount of press materials and correspondence about the Argonne Semester program, often between Beloit College and the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM), though which Beloit participated in the program, or Argonne National Laboratory itself. The bulk of the collection is dedicated to final reports by Beloit College students who took part in the program from 1962-1964.

Related Materials

Beloit College Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) records (AC 5)

Beloit College Beloit Plan records (AC 22)

Processing Information

This collection has no accession documentation. The original order of the documents is unknown. The arrangement order presented here has been imposed by the College Archives staff.